As if having FBC (f-bomb breast cancer) or any other kind of cancer isn’t hard enough, there is that pesky issue of insurance with which we had to contend. Oy. During the first week after my diagnosis, we went to work to figure it all out. I was sweating bullets wondering if the upcoming hundreds of thousands of dollars (I only wish I were exaggerating) in health care bills would be covered.
Fortunately, the HOTY (Husband Of The Year) is the person in our family who handles our insurance, but getting the cancer insurance ducks in a row was a joint effort, considering the magnitude of logistics involved. A Silver Lining of my treatment is that we have good health insurance. It was a ginormous Silver Lining as a matter of fact.
During my treatment, there wasn’t a day that I didn’t express gratitude for my insurance. As a nurse and social worker, I have worked with a multitude of people who were under- or uninsured. It was often heartbreaking to walk into patients’ homes and see piles of paperwork and the mirror of worry on their faces. I mean, really, not only were they coping with the devastation of a diagnosis but to be swimming in a mountain of paperwork and debt is adding insult to injury.
Though it is still overwhelming, there are a few Silver Linings to help:
- CancerCare (cancercare.org) and The Patient Advocate Foundation (copays.org) are terrific organizations that have financial assistance programs and resources.
- Additionally, denials can be contested. I remember a $27,000 bill that my insurance company refused to pay (it gives me palpitations to think about it). However, we fought it and won.
- Call your insurance company and learn what benefits you have and which physicians will be covered.
- Ask for help with insurance and bills. Fees can be negotiated.
Do you have any helpful Silver Linings for working with Insurance companies?